Exclusive documentary: Syria, the Unfolding Tragedy

Two years after the first demonstrations in Deraa, France 24 presents an exclusive documentary on the roots of the Syrian conflict. Why, after two years of fighting and nearly 70,000 lives lost, is the country still torn apart by war?

We spoke to journalists and analysts as well as Syrian, Iranian, and French officials. Among them are those who rubbed shoulders with dictator Bashar al-Assad as well as those awaiting his collapse.

To former Syrian Vice President Abdel Halim Khaddam, Assad "is a crazy man" who "will suffer the same fate as Muammar Gaddafi", whereas former Iranian Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Ali Ahani describes Assad as "a man who cares for his country, his people".